You say you don’t go to theatres that are not of a more professional calibre?

Think twice! Marie Pearsall, a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, founded Theatre Southwest in 1957 with her husband, Les, and has been delivering quality theatre ever since.

Marie’s and Les’ daughter, Mimi Holloway, has been Artistic Director since 1988.

Theatre Southwest has gone from a three-play season to a season that includes six subscription plays, the Festival of Originals, a Reader’s Theatre, and monthly workshops.

TSW has had monthly meetings and workshops the third Wednesday of every month for 51 years.

I am here to tell you that there is a very high quality of theatre here at Theatre Southwest (most acting performances as as good if not better than at the Alley Theatre), particularly when one of the best directors in town, Ananka Kohnitz, is at the helm of the current production.

Ms. Kohnitz has risen to cult status as the only director in town that can do Tracy Letts’ plays justice.

Her production of his Bug at TSW and Killer Joe at Obsidian Art Space several years ago are still being remembered and feverishly discussed to this day, revered as the best of the best.

What sets Ms. Kohnitz’s direction apart from others is her extraordinary attention to detail, her exquisite sets, and her ability to get the maximum characterization out of every actor she works with in a given production.

Here, in An Act of the Imagination, Ms. Kohnitz has cast Scott Holmes, one of the finest character actors in town, as Arthur Putnam, a famous British mystery author.

Let’s talk about the British accents required to make this play believable as a British play that takes place in 1964 in the living room/study of a house in Hampstead, on the outskirts of London.

Every single accent from every single actor here is delivered with British perfection and refinement, with the exception of Chelsea Curto‘s Cockney accent, which is absolutely flawless!

No doubt because Ms. Kohnitz demanded this of her seven actors.

Her deliciously detailed and elegantly decorated set has earned such comments as, “I want to move into this set!”

Suffice it to say that An Act of the Imagination in any other director’s hands would not have been as riveting, stunning, and entertaining as is Ms. Kohnitz’s vision.

Jackie Pender-Lovell as Julia Putnam, Scott Holmes as Arthur Putnam

I have a question for Scott Holmes.

Mr. Holmes, how do you make everything you do onstage a true tour de force?

Seriously, folks, Scott Holmes is one of those great actors who gives his all plus another 100% to create a role.

To say that Mr. Holmes’ work is passionate about his acting is to diminish his greatness and his glory.

You simply must experience his work here to understand what I am writing about.
Jackie Pender-Lovell, whose work I have not experienced until now, has made it onto my “Follow These Actresses” List. (Please add me to your Facebook so I can follow your career!)

Ms. Pender-Lovell is perfectly remarkable and wonderfully winning in her role as the disgruntled second wife of Arthur Putnam.

Taylor Biltoft, as sexy, strong, as substantive as he was when I reviewed him in Deadly Murder at Theatre Suburbia two months ago, now sports a perfect British accent.
Kevin Bray is big, boisterous, and beneficial as Detective Sergeant Fred Burchitt.

Pamela M. Moore creates all of the comic elements of a seasoned comic actor as Holly Adams.
Ms. Moore almost steals the play every time when she is onstage.

Chelsea Curto as Brenda Simmons gives the kind of grounded performance we have come to expect from a rising superstar.
I reviewed her for the first time in Vanities at TSW several years ago, and I am here to tell you that she has the necessary acting chops to make it all the way to the top of her craft.

I am afraid you’ll have to read the other critics’ lousy reviews to get a give-everything-away synopsis.

I am not called The Critic’s Critic for nothing!

Run to see the best suspense whodunit this critic has ever seen. I was, literally, on the edge of my seat the entire time and you will be too!
An Act of the Imagination runs every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. through March 10.